Cemetery Monument Display for Objects of Value to a Decedent, and Method of Making

ABSTRACT

A monument display honoring a decedent by displaying objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime, and related method of making same, comprising: an opaque stone used as a memorial marker for the decedent; a recess in a first surface of the opaque stone, passing partially but not entirely through the opaque stone, wherein a second surface inside the recess and opposite to the first surface of the opaque stone remains opaque and is not removed from the stone; a transparent solid material permanently filling the recess; and at least one object which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime situated in the recess, permanently embedded and suspended and immobile and weatherproof and airtight within the transparent solid material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Losing a beloved family member is perhaps one of the most difficult, painful experiences that human beings encounter over the course of a lifetime. Reputable monument dealers make it their business to find ways to tastefully memorialize the deceased and lessen the burden of loss as much as possible. Family members, as they reminisce about a loved one, will often take comfort from personal items that were important to the decedent during their lives. These objects which were of value to the decedent may include, for example not limitation, books, instruments, medals, trophies, certificates recognizing important achievements, wedding rings or other jewelry, photographs, special pens, “lucky” coins, awards, and the like. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and inventive way for family members and friends to honor a decedent by displaying such objects of value as an integral, permanent part of a cemetery or other memorial monument.

U.S. Pat. No. 748,284 takes honoring the decedent to what is perhaps a macabre extreme, by actually preserving and displaying the corpse itself. More modest and tasteful approaches have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,495 for a “Gravestone Marker with Protected Viewing Chamber.” The chamber of this invention is bounded by a “glass or acrylic display window 12 that is transparent and optically clear,” and is in the nature of a display cabinet such as one might find in a museum or the display case of a merchandise establishment. Memorabilia are then placed into this display, but they remain loose and there is no airtight embedding to protect them from deterioration for indefinite time periods of decades or even centuries. U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,515 is similarly in the nature of a display case with shelving, but the display is non-permanent and there is nothing to protect the memorabilia from deterioration.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,703 for a “Burial Monument with Memorabilia Storage Device” provides what is essentially a removable time capsule. Family and friends can remove this compartment and change the memorabilia inside from time to time. But this does not permit the memorabilia to be seen without removing the compartment, and again, this compartment will not preserve the memorabilia for indefinite lengths of time.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,274,809 is a tombstone which has a cavity that can be used to display flowers, “it being of course preferable that the flowers be of an artificial nature.” This cavity has a “transparent plate hermetically sealing the cavity.” But flowers are tribute items brought by others after the person's death, not objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime. And the “sealing” of the cavity also is not a permanent embedding that can preserve objects of sentimental value with no or minimal deterioration for decades or centuries.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,076 discloses a monument “depicting information pertinent to a decedent” which may include “three dimensional objects indicative of the decedent's life.”

However, this monument is not the traditional opaque stone used as a cemetery marker for a decedent, but rather is manufactured from the outset as a “substantially transparent molded member . . . depicting information pertinent to the life of a decedent displayed on said member.”

It would be desirable to advance the prior art in a novel and nonobvious manner, by providing a cemetery monument which simultaneously allows an object or objects were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime to be placed on permanent visible display as part of a traditional opaque stone used as a cemetery marker for the decedent, with part of the stone providing opaque background for visual contrast, and with the object or objects of value permanently embedded within a transparent solid material that is part of the monument, in an airtight and immobile manner, so as to preserve these for decades and even centuries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a monument display honoring a decedent by displaying objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime, and related method of making same, comprising: an opaque stone used as a memorial marker for the decedent; a recess in a first surface of the opaque stone, passing partially but not entirely through the opaque stone, wherein a second surface inside the recess and opposite to the first surface of the opaque stone remains opaque and is not removed from the stone; a transparent solid material permanently filling the recess; and at least one object which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime situated in the recess, permanently embedded and suspended and immobile and weatherproof and airtight within the transparent solid material; wherein: the at least one object of value may be viewed through the transparent solid material by virtue of the transparency; the second surface of the slab being opaque provides an opaque background for visually contrasting the at least one object of value; the at least one object of value is protected from deterioration by virtue the weatherproof and airtight embedding within the transparent solid material; the at least one object of value is protected from theft by virtue of the permanent embedding within the transparent solid material; and the at least one object of value provides a perpetual display honoring the decedent by virtue of its suspended immobile embedding within the transparent solid material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) summarized below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a monument display in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred of method of fabricating the monument display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front plan view of an exemplary embodiment for a temporary retaining form used when fabricating the display for monument which is already upright.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a memorial monument 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. This monument 1 comprises an opaque (not transparent) stone 11 used as a memorial marker for the decedent, in the manner that is traditional for stone memorial markers. Typically, such opaque stones 11 include but are not limited to granite, sandstone, slate, marble, limestone and the like. In FIG. 1 the opaque surface of the stone 11 used in connection with monument 1 is highlighted by a plurality of dots. The name or names of the decedents, in this case John and Mary Smith buried side by side at a family memorial, are inscribed in the usual way, often along with dates of birth and death, not shown.

In accordance with the present invention, a recess 12 is carved into or otherwise formed in a first surface of the opaque stone 11, passing partially but not entirely through the opaque stone 11, such that a second surface opposite to the first surface of the stone remains opaque. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the recess is on the front surface of the stone and the opposite surface is the back surface of the stone, but this is exemplary and not limiting. It is certainly possible to have the recess 12 be carved or otherwise formed into the back surface of the stone, or even into the sides and/or the top. But as noted and illustrated, this recess in accordance with the invention does not pass all the way through the stone. If the recess 12 had been fabricated to pass all the way through, then it would have extended to the rear surface illustrated in the dotted lines projected at 13. But instead, the recess 12 only cuts as far back as the surface illustrated by the hidden lines 14. Therefore, the second surface opposite to the first surface of the opaque stone remains opaque. This provides an opaque background illustrated by the diagonal hashed lines 15, for visually contrasting at least one object which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime. Optionally, the second surface at 15 and/or the sidewalls and/or the top and/or bottom walls of the recess 12 may be painted with a chosen color of paint. We now turn to these objects of value, which are a central focus of the invention.

Situated inside the recess 12 is at least one object 16 which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime. The illustration of FIG. 1, for example but not limitation, depicts as the at least one object of value 16, a purple heart which belonged to John, and a wedding ring which belonged to Mary from her and John's marriage. However, these are not resting on the bottom surface 17 of the recess 12 as they would for a display case such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,274,809; U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,515; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,495. Rather they are permanently embedded and suspended within a transparent solid material 18 that permanently fills the recess 12, in manner that is immobile and airtight.

This transparent solid material 18 used to embed and suspend the at least one object of value 16 as a perpetual display honoring the decedent, may be a clear epoxy or resin or equivalent material suitable for this purpose, including but not limited to clear caulking, liquid plastic, liquid glass, or glue. Irrespective of the specific material 18 employed, the material characteristics of this transparent solid material 18 must be as follows: First, the transparent solid material 18 must be transparent, so that the at least one object of value 16 contained therein can be viewed by visitors to the monument. Second, although the material 18 may have originally been in a fluid state during fabrication of the display, once solidified and hardened, this material 18 must become solid and weatherproof and airtight. As will be discussed when we review the method of fabricating the invention, the at least one object of value 16 will have been adhered inside the recess 12 while the material 18 was still in fluid phase, so that after the material 18 has hardened, the at least one object of value 16 will have become permanently suspended and embedded within the hardened material 18. Likewise, the at least one object of value 16 will be protected by the solid material 18 from air and moisture and other weathering elements because of this embedding within the material 18. Finally, the transparent solid material 18 must have the material characteristics required to permanently adhere to the recess 12 carved into or otherwise formed in the first surface of the opaque stone 11.

After a monument with the foregoing configuration and characteristics has been prepared, this monument will afford the following combination of benefits which do not appear to be disclosed or suggested anywhere in the prior art: First, the least one object of value 16 may be viewed at any time through the transparent solid material 18, by virtue of this transparency. Second, because the recess 12 is configured to pass partially but not entirely through the opaque stone 11, the second surface of the stone being opaque provides an opaque background 15 to provide good visual contrast for viewing the at least one object of value 16. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,076, as a counterexample in its FIG. 1, is not a traditional opaque stone, and being entirely transparent, provides no good visual contrast for anything it may contain. Third, the at least one object of value 12 is protected from deterioration by virtue this weatherproof and airtight embedding within the transparent solid material 18. Fourth, as opposed to the prior art which operates as a display case and allows objects to be removed and replaced, the present invention protects the at least one object of value 16 from theft by virtue of the object's or objects' permanent embedding within the transparent solid material 18. Short of stealing the entire stone and cracking or cutting apart the material 18 with a sledgehammer or a saw, it is simply impossible for anybody to steal or otherwise remove the at least one object of value 16. Finally, as a result of this overall configuration as a whole, the suspended immobile embedding within the transparent solid material 18 of the at least one object of value 16 provides a perpetual display honoring the decedent.

Turning to FIG. 2, the monument 1 is fabricated in the following way: The process begins with an opaque stone 11 to be used as a memorial marker for the decedent. Then, the recess 12 is cut or sandblasted into the first surface of the stone 11, again, passing partially but not entirely the stone 11, so that the second surface 15 inside the recess 12 remains opaque. Optionally at this time, the second surface 15 may be painted with a desired background/contrast color. Next, the at least one object of value 16 is adhered to the second surface 15 inside the recess at desired placement positions. This adherence utilizes glue or equivalent material, with the requirement that the chosen adhering material must retain the at least one object of value 16 in position during the next step. This next step is permanently filling the recess 12 using the transparent solid material 18, which is poured or otherwise flowed into the recess 12, in a manner permanently embedding and suspending and immobilizing the at least one object of value 16 in a weatherproof and airtight manner within the transparent solid material 18. Once the transparent solid material 18 has hardened, the monument honoring a decedent by displaying objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime is complete and ready for use.

For new stones, i.e., stones that are for newly-deceased and have not yet been placed, the stone is preferably laid down so that the recess 12 faces upwards against gravity, enabling the transparent solid material 18 to simply be poured in liquid state into the recess 12 in a way that easily evenly fills the recess 12 with transparent solid material 18 with the requisite embedding of the at least one object of value 16 after hardening.

In the event that the display of the invention is to be added/retrofitted to a stone that is already placed upright in a cemetery or other memorial location, and if it is desired to leave this stone in place while the display is being added out of respect for the deceased or for any other reason, then after the at least one object of value 16 has been adhered to the second surface 15, a temporary retaining form 21 is mounted in a temporary manner on the first surface of the stone 11 over the recess 12 with a pour opening 22 provided for pouring the transparent solid material 18 in liquid state into the recess 12 and retaining the material 18 until it solidifies. Thereafter, the temporary retaining form 21 is removed, and the outside surface of the now-solid transparent solid material 18 is finished for suitable appearance—if and as required—using buffing or polishing or equivalent finishing methods, and possibly abrading. The retaining form 21 may optionally be lubricated over its inside surface to facilitate its easy detachment from the solidified material with minimal marring of the outside surface of the transparent solid material 18. The temporary retaining form 21 may be fabricated from a plastic or equivalent material, with material properties which minimize its adherence to the transparent solid material 18. Examples of suitable transparent solid material 18 and lubricants include, but are not limited to, latex rubber or silicone.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the temporary retaining form 21 in additional detail. For purposes of this non-limiting example, it will be assumed that the recess 12 has the externally-viewed shape of an oval, as shown. This is exemplary only, because other shapes such as the rectangle of FIGS. 1 and 2, or a heart, or a diamond, or any other shape which the people memorializing the decedent may desire, can also be employed.

Irrespective of the particular shape of recess 12, the temporary retaining form 21 comprises the aforementioned small opening 22 which in this embodiment is a simple funnel. Beneath the funnel, is a solid material contact surface 23 which is sized and shaped to conform to the external size and shape of the recess 12. This contact surface 23 is fabricated from a latex rubber or silicon material or equivalent, which is thin yet strong, and which will detach, e.g., peel from the surface of the transparent solid material 18 after that material has been poured and then solidified. As mentioned, optionally a suitable lubricant may be sprayed onto the back of this contact surface 23 to further facilitate detachment e.g., peeling.

These salient features are also illustrated from the side plan view of FIG. 4. This illustrates a mildly convex profile for the contact surface 23 because once the transparent solid material 18 has been poured the weight of this material will press the contact surface 23 outwards. After solidification, as mentioned, the transparent solid material 18 may later be buffed or polished. And if desired or needed, once the material 18 is hardened and prior to buffing or polishing, some abrading may be used to bring the outside of the transparent solid material 18 to a flush level with the stone.

Surrounding the contact surface 23 is a small lip 24 at which the contact surface 23 is affixed to the temporary retaining form 21. The portion of temporary retaining form 21 not traversed by the cutout of the contact surface 23 may comprise, for example not limitation, a Plexiglas or hard plastic or equivalent—preferably clear/transparent—so that the stone can be seen to facilitate precise form 21 positioning for the pouring transparent solid material 18. Prior to pouring, the temporary retaining form 21 is mounted to the monument 1 with, for example not limitation, a pair of straps 25 which may be tightened using the tightening and support apparatuses 26 schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, which may include, also for example not limitation, wedges and or ratchets.

The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the art at the time of this disclosure, including but not limited to the prior art disclosed with this application, is understood to be part and parcel of this disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by reference herein, even if in the interest of economy express statements about the specific knowledge understood to be possessed by someone of ordinary skill are omitted from this disclosure. While reference may be made in this disclosure to the invention comprising a combination of a plurality of elements, it is also understood that this invention is regarded to comprise combinations which omit or exclude one or more of such elements, even if this omission or exclusion of an element or elements is not expressly stated herein, unless it is expressly stated herein that an element is essential to applicant's combination and cannot be omitted. It is further understood that the related prior art may include elements from which this invention may be distinguished by negative claim limitations, even without any express statement of such negative limitations herein. It is to be understood, between the positive statements of applicant's invention expressly stated herein, and the prior art and knowledge of the prior art by those of ordinary skill which is incorporated herein even if not expressly reproduced here for reasons of economy, that any and all such negative claim limitations supported by the prior art are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims, even absent any express statement herein about any particular negative claim limitations.

Finally, while only certain preferred features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A monument display honoring a decedent by displaying objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime, comprising: an opaque stone used as a memorial marker for the decedent; a recess in a first surface of said opaque stone, passing partially but not entirely through said opaque stone, wherein a second surface inside said recess and opposite to said first surface of said opaque stone remains opaque and is not removed from said stone; a transparent solid material permanently filling said recess; and at least one object which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime situated in said recess, permanently embedded and suspended and immobile and weatherproof and airtight within said transparent solid material; wherein: said at least one object of value may be viewed through said transparent solid material by virtue of said transparency; said second surface of said slab being opaque provides an opaque background for visually contrasting said at least one object of value; said at least one object of value is protected from deterioration by virtue said weatherproof and airtight embedding within said transparent solid material; said at least one object of value is protected from theft by virtue of said permanent embedding within said transparent solid material; and said at least one object of value provides a perpetual display honoring the decedent by virtue of its suspended immobile embedding within said transparent solid material.
 2. The monument display of claim 1, wherein said second surface is painted. painting said second surface prior to adhering said at least one object of value to said second surface.
 3. The monument display of claim 1, said transparent solid material comprising: sufficient transparency so that said at least one object of value; the material property in solid state of being weatherproof and airtight; the further material property in solid state causing permanent adherence to said recess.
 4. The monument display of claim 1, said transparent solid material comprising an epoxy or resin or equivalent material.
 5. A method of making a monument display honoring a decedent by displaying objects which were of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime; comprising: providing an opaque stone to be used as a memorial marker for the decedent; cutting or sandblasting a recess in a first surface of said opaque stone, passing partially but not entirely through said opaque stone, wherein a second surface inside said recess and opposite to said first surface of said opaque stone remains opaque and is not removed from said stone; adhering at least one object which was of value to the decedent during his or her lifetime, to said second surface inside said recess; permanently filling said recess using a transparent solid material, thereby permanently embedding and suspending and immobilizing said at least one object of value in a weatherproof and airtight manner within said transparent solid material; wherein: said at least one object of value may be viewed through said transparent solid material by virtue of said transparency; said second surface of said slab being opaque provides an opaque background for visually contrasting said at least one object of value; said at least one object of value is protected from deterioration by virtue said weatherproof and airtight embedding within said transparent solid material; said at least one object of value is protected from theft by virtue of said permanent embedding within said transparent solid material; and said at least one object of value provides a perpetual display honoring the decedent by virtue of its suspended immobile embedding within said transparent solid material.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising painting said second surface inside said recess prior to adhering said at least one object of value to said second surface.
 7. The method of claim 5, said transparent solid material comprising: sufficient transparency so that said at least one object of value; the material property in solid state of being weatherproof and airtight; the further material property in solid state causing permanent adherence to said recess.
 8. The method of claim 5, said transparent solid material comprising an epoxy or resin or equivalent material.
 9. The method of claim 5, further comprising: temporarily mounting a temporary retaining form over said second surface, while maintaining a pour opening; permanently filling said recess with said transparent solid material through said pour opening; said retaining form retaining said transparent solid material prior to its solidification; thereafter, removing said temporary retaining form; and as needed, finishing an outside surface of the now-solid transparent solid material. 